The Week in Polls: Obama’s First-Term Approval Rating Slump

Obama’s average among lowest of U.S. presidents, plus more.

Americans Weigh In - Congress loses a popularity contest, the number of interracial marriages in the United States reaches all-time high, President Obama gets kudos for fiscal cliff dealings, plus more national polls. – Joyce Jones and Britt Middleton

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Americans Weigh In - Obama's first-term approval rating average among lowest of U.S. presidents, support for legalizing abortion reaches all-time high, plus more national polls. — Britt Middleton

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First Term Average - Obama's presidency is on a high, but his first-term average approval numbers are among the lowest at 49.1 percent. A new poll from Gallup published Jan. 21 found that only Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford had lower averages. (Photo: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Pro-choice advocates participate in protest in front of the U.S. Supreme Court building January 22, 2010 in Washington, DC. Activists from across the nation gathered to commemorate the 37th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, which decriminalized abortion in all fifty states. (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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Roe vs. Who? - Jan. 22 marked the 40th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade case that legalized abortion. Most Americans (62 percent) know about the landmark case, but according to a Pew Research poll published Jan. 22, just 44 percent of young adults under 30 are aware of it. (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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You Choose - For the first time in history, a majority of Americans believe that abortion should be legalized. In an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released Jan. 21, 54 percent of adults said that abortion should be legal either always or most of the time. (Photo: UPI Photo/Kevin Dietsch /Landov)

I have a Dream   - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his "I have a Dream" speech to a crowd of 250,000 in Washington, D.C., in 1963. (Photo: CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images)

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Living the Dream - This year marks the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. Has that dream been fulfilled? In a CNN/ORG International poll published Jan. 21, 50 percent of Americans said yes, compared to 40 percent who said it has not. (Photo: CBS Photo Archive)

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A Bright Future - America’s youngest are keeping their eyes on the prize, with many aspiring to own their own business. In a Gallup poll of students in grades five through 12 released Jan. 22, 43 percent said they had entrepreneurial aspirations. Separately, 42 percent said they planned to event something that “changes the world.” (Photo: Contra Costa Times/ MCT /LANDOV)

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A Bright Future - America’s youngest are keeping their eyes on the prize, with many aspiring to own their own business. In a Gallup poll of students in grades five through 12 released Jan. 22, 43 percent said they had entrepreneurial aspirations. Separately, 42 percent said they planned to event something that “changes the world.” (Photo: Contra Costa Times/ MCT /LANDOV)

Congress’ Approval Rating - Americans continue to have an all-time low opinion of Congress, giving it a 13 percent approval rating in a Gallup poll published Nov. 14. Its 2011 average could be the lowest annual rating in Gallup history.(Photo: Jason Reed/Reuters)

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Biding Their Time - Should federal lawmakers be allowed to serve for as long as they can get elected? Not according to the voters. In a Gallup poll published Jan. 18, 75 percent said they'd vote to limit members of Congress’ terms in office. (Photo: REUTERS/Jason Reed)

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Staying Connected - They may be out of their parents’ house, but the majority of 18-29 year olds (77 percent) admit to regularly checking in with mom and dad via texting, email, phone or in person, according to a Clark University Poll of Emerging Adults released on Jan. 17. Fifty-two percent said they conversed with their parents every day or almost every day. (Photo: Getty Images/STOCK)

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Are You Ready for Some Football? - It’s a decision that could settle age-long riffs in sports bars around the country. According to a Harris Poll released Jan. 17, professional football edged out baseball as America’s favorite sport, 34 percent to 16 percent, respectively.(Photo: RTimages/Getty Images/STOCK)

A Path to Citizenship - The Senate plan would create a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants already living in the U.S. and is contingent upon securing borders. It also calls for greater vigilance of people staying longer than their visas allow. (Photo: Jabin Botsford/For The Washington Post via Getty Images)

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Green Card - Immigration reform will be a key issue in 2013, although lawmakers are divided on how to achieve it. In a CNN/ORG International poll published Jan. 22, 53 percent said the U.S. government should create a pathway for undocumented workers to become legal residents. (Photo: Jabin Botsford/For The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Jabin Botsford/For The Washington Post via Getty Images

A taxi is viewed on September 4, 2012 in New York City. As of Tuesday, yellow taxis may begin charging more following an approved fare increase for riders. Taxi rates have remained virtually unchanged since 2006 and will now rise by an expected 17 percent. (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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Yellow Cab Blues - The majority of cab drivers (60 percent) spend more of their time driving alone than with paying passengers, according to a survey Boston cab drivers released by Hailo Jan. 17. According to the poll, about 70 percent of drivers reported having passengers that evade fares at least once a month. (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)